HILLSBOROUGH: Civic leaders plan kickoff to suicide awareness effort 

Civic leaders are planning an invitation-only breakfast for Friday, Nov. 20, to introduce an idea for a year-long campaign to combat “the community’s increasing rate of traumatic loss (including suicide) and the need for mental health support, particularly among young people.
The township BoroSafe organization, comprised of a group of academic, religious and social issues leaders, has invited local academic, business, sports and government leaders to the 8:30-120 a.m. program in the municipal building on South Branch Road help promote a “Year of Gratitude” in Hillsborough.
“When people have things they appreciate, it helps deal with questions in a positive way,” said Jorden Schiff, superintendent of schools. He said “for whatever reason, our rate of suicide among adults is very high.”
A sense of gratitude helps people understand the reasons for continuing to deal with life and its problems.
Besides building awareness, the program will share a brief overview of suicide prevention, awareness and education.
The campaign will try to coordinate the general message of gratitude during the Thanksgiving week in many venues — in schools, in local government meetings, from the pulpit, etc. 